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It seems just about everyone has heard of Adult Friend Finder (AFF). The site’s name is everywhere, from online ads to pop culture references. Still, even though so many people have heard about AFF, the casual encounter platform suffers from a checkered reputation in the rumor mill.
The hookup site is a legitimate platform for people seeking casual encounters. It provides a sexy playground for singles, couples, and groups to explore their fantasies, but is it the right place to find the hookup you’re seeking? Read on to decide for yourself.
How It Works | History | Safety Features | Alternatives
Yes, AFF Has Legit Sex Appeal
Adult Friend Finder is a juggernaut in the online hookup world. The adult site boasts more than 25 million active monthly visitors from around the world, making it one of the most popular online dating platforms. But why is the site so popular?
AFF keeps things simple when helping adults find their next casual encounter. The interface has basic profiles and straightforward tools. Instead of a complicated matchmaking algorithm, users create their own personal ads for the forum, detailing who they are and what they’re looking for.
Relationships: Hookups Only
Match System: Search by location, interest, more
Our Experts Say: “Make no mistake: this site isn’t about making friends, it’s about finding hookups and casual encounters. No adult site has a larger or more active user base of those seeking discreet fun…”
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| All Singles* |
65%*
35%*
|
25.5 Million* | 3 Months @ $19.95/Mo |
AFF also offers users a public chat room for mingling. New members can use this space to get a feel for one another before taking their conversations private. Both the forum and chat room host plenty of spicy content, including cybersex and erotic stories that flow freely, keeping the mood hot and heavy.
And the adult content isn’t limited to the chat forum. Users post photos and videos and even perform live for appreciative members. So, if you’re looking for kinky inspiration, you’ll find plenty.
How it Works
Signing up for Adult Friend Finder is simple. All you need is to provide basic information: your date of birth, email address, location, gender, and what you’re looking for.
If you’re on the down low, you can stay anonymous on AFF because you don’t have to provide many details about yourself. While a profile picture is strongly recommended, you can skip the step to leave a bit of mystery in your profile.
Once your photos are verified, you can get started right away. Post your personal ad, start talking to whoever is online, or use the search feature to browse potential matches in your area.
You can filter your searches by various criteria, including gender, couples vs singles, proximity, appearance, ethnicity, and other important factors.
Things can get more complicated once you want to talk to other users privately. Only premium members can send and receive private messages, so if you don’t want to discuss your next hookup where everyone online can see it, you’ll need to use your credit card.
Premium membership comes with other perks, including increased visibility on the platform, access to more exclusive adult content, and more communication options, such as one-on-one video chat. You also get more search filters and the ability to allow basic members to contact you.
Whether you’re a premium member or a basic member, you’ll gain access to the AFF Sex Academy, contests, blogs, and the AFF magazine and blog. All these benefits make Adult Friend Finder more than just a place to find your next hookup: it’s a fully immersive adult experience.
A Brief History of AFF
Adult Friend Finder launched in 1996, in the early days of the mainstream internet. The site’s continued existence and huge popularity worldwide are testaments to the hard work behind the scenes to ensure that the AFF network offers everything pleasure-seekers want and need.
AFF has had its share of struggles, especially regarding keeping the site funded. Despite being bought by Penthouse Media Group in 2007 and then going public as a company, Adult Friend Finder struggled in the 2010s. After bankruptcy and reorganization from 2013 to 2016, the site emerged stronger than ever with a dedicated following.
Funding hasn’t been the only issue that AFF has faced. Two separate data breaches occurred in 2015 and 2016, with user details (including passwords) revealed on various platforms. However, the Adult Friend Finder team worked hard to regain users’ trust, incorporating security features and encryption to ensure that the problem wouldn’t occur again.
The biggest challenge that AFF has faced has been maintaining legitimacy in the online dating and hookup space. As an adult content platform, AFF’s mobile app was stricken from the Apple App Store, but the team keeps the site itself mobile-friendly and provides the app through direct download to make it easy for users to access the platform on the go.
A core feature that keeps users coming back to AFF is customer service. Catering to the wants and needs of users and responding quickly to issues that arise on the site is important to the AFF team. That’s why users can reach out to customer service easily via contact forms and report flags located all over the site.
Safety Features
Despite all of the struggles and challenges that Adult Friend Finder has faced in its decades of existence, the site continues to be a reliable and safe platform for casual encounters. Its reinforced security measures ensure that singles, couples, and groups can find real partners who fulfill their deepest, hottest fantasies.
Profile Verification to Weed Out Scammers
Scammers are the bane of all online dating sites, but they’re ubiquitous on hookup sites and apps. Adult Friend Finder takes a proactive approach to fighting the issue because the team knows that scammers and fakes bring down the vibe.
Basic profile verification steps make it harder for scammers to take root on the platform. The system aims to reinforce security without making legitimate members jump through hoops like some other sites do. Instead of submitting identification documents or waiting a long time to get your profile approved, Adult Friend Finder checks the details you provide quickly behind the scenes.
Profile verification isn’t the only way that AFF works to keep the site fun and useful for members. It’s easy to report sketchy profiles for review, so any scammers who make it through the filters and verification steps get detected and removed before they cause trouble.
The team behind AFF also works hard to keep site policies and updates transparent, making it clear to users what they’re doing and how they’re navigating the increasingly potent threat of scammers and bots.
Although there are the usual complaints about fake profiles and inactive accounts from unhappy users, AFF has fewer bad reviews than you’d expect from such a big, popular site.
Some of the processes to weed out scammers even come from surprising sources. For example, the decision to give only premium members access to private messages helps cut down on various scammers. After all, most scammers operate by talking to people one-on-one, and they don’t want to pay for access.
Overall, Adult Friend Finder maintains security and privacy features that help to keep bad actors on the site to a minimum. Although the systems aren’t perfect, they keep the worst of the worst at bay. That makes it easier for genuine users to find the hookups they seek.
User Experiences and Community Rules
With a site as established and long-running as Adult Friend Finder, it should be no surprise that user experiences can vary. Despite being massively popular, AFF has its fair share of naysayers who accuse the site of scamming them in various ways.
Some users report the standard issues on almost any dating site: fake profiles, catfish, and time wasters. A somewhat more troubling accusation comes from users who claim that they signed up for a premium membership, later changed their mind, and continued to be charged after cancellation.
“I think it partially comes down to the area you live in. I live within 30 minutes of a large city and have had decent success with the website.” — an AFF member on Reddit
The site was even subject to a settlement in 2007 after an FTC indictment following reports of malware ads and potentially fraudulent billing practices. However, AFF has cleaned up its act over the years and has made the membership cancellation process more transparent.
Despite the complaints against the platform, there’s no denying that AFF is a popular hookup site, which means that the bad experiences are far from the majority. Although Redditors are somewhat mixed in their experiences with Adult Friend Finder, many stated that they were able to find a no-strings-attached sexual connection just fine.
“Been on AFF as a couple looking for married/single men. It is completely legit, have met many good people. Mostly milfs.” — an AFF couple on Reddit
Most of the positive testimonials come from women for a very simple reason: only 35% of AFF users are women, which means that women on the site have their pick of potential partners. With such steep competition among the male members, it’s not surprising that many men feel tricked.
The biggest success rate is in the swinging community. AFF users who identify as swingers on Reddit report their fruitful efforts to find like-minded couples and play partners. The advice from men in the forums is pretty consistent: act like a gentleman, stand out from the crowd, and be polite yet persistent.
All in all, Adult Friend Finder remains a legitimate and popular platform for singles and couples to indulge their fantasies. Despite some issues and complaints, the site offers many options and provides many opportunities for hookups, and most users are satisfied with their experiences.
How to Avoid Trouble
In light of the complaints about scammers, fake profiles, and other bad actors on Adult Friend Finder, it’s a good idea to remember the basic steps to stay safe and avoid scams while seeking a hookup online.
Online dating has made it easier than ever to find like-minded partners, but it also makes it easy for people to set up shop to defraud others out of money via various schemes. Common warning signs of a romance scam include:
- Vague personal details
- Incorrect English or choppy phrasing
- Quick escalation to romance
- Profile sounds too good to be true
- Refusing to meet in person or conduct a video call
- Asking for money or favors
The biggest tool in your toolkit is your good judgment. You need to be skeptical of anyone you meet online. While Adult Friend Finder doesn’t include many details in user profiles, you can still pay attention to what users claim to be. If pictures don’t match written descriptions, that’s a major red flag.
Speaking of pictures, be on the lookout for catfish. Fake profile pictures are a common pitfall of online dating, so you should keep your eyes peeled for the telltale signs of a phony profile pic. If you’re unsure whether a profile picture is genuine, you can do a reverse image search to check and find out if the photo appears elsewhere online.
Beyond profile details, be cautious when talking to another person online, whether on AFF or anywhere else. If your potential partner rushes to make things very intense very quickly, that’s a big red flag. They could be an online romance scammer.
In short, if someone seems too good to be true or their stories don’t sound realistic, there’s a good chance you’re encountering a scammer. Fortunately, AFF makes it easy to block and report the scammers you might encounter and flag potentially fake profiles for review.
Safety doesn’t stop there. Before you move to an in-person meeting, make sure you take the opportunity to chat with your potential partner by voice or video to be confident you know who you’re actually getting. Once ready to take the plunge, set up your first meeting in a public place.
Basic safety tactics apply whether you’re seeking a partner on Adult Friend Finder or anywhere else. Enjoy yourself, but make sure that you stay safe.
5 Alternatives to AFF
Although Adult Friend Finder is a top-rated hookup site, it certainly isn’t the only one out there. If the vibe on AFF doesn’t match your expectations, our experts can recommend one of these sites and apps as an alternative.
Relationships: Hookups, Casual Dates, Affairs
Match System: Search by age, location, appearance, and more
Our Experts Say: “With its massive user base and advanced privacy features, Ashley Madison is the #1 site for discreet hookups, dates, or relationships…” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| All Singles & Attached* |
71%*
29%*
|
65 Million* | Browse FREE |
Ashley Madison has a well-earned reputation as an affair site, but you don’t have to be married to join. Discretion is the name of the game on the platform, and for anyone who wants to keep their search for casual sex low-key, Ashley Madison offers plenty of tools.
All profiles receive an anonymity check before going live to ensure that users aren’t accidentally including details that could get them caught.
In addition to the anonymity check, Ashley Madison offers photo blurring tools, a password-protected photo vault that allows users to selectively reveal themselves only to people they trust, and a panic button to navigate away from the site or app instantly. The site even offers automatic browser history clearing to keep your research secret.
Women get free access to the site’s search features and messaging tools, but men looking for a discreet partner have to pay for access. Fortunately, Ashley Madison uses discreet billing and flexible payment options so men can keep their activities as private as possible.
2. BeNaughty
Relationships: Hookups, Chats
Match System: Search by encounter, location, and more
Our Experts Say: “Absolutely free to sign up and browse profiles, BeNaughty is the top pick of millions for local “adult dating.” If you are looking for sex only — straight, swinger, gay, lesbian — this is your site…” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
13.3 Million* | Browse Profiles Free |
BeNaughty lives up to its name by encouraging users to get wild and be daring on the secure platform. You can find as much adult content as you desire, from erotic stories and chats to photos and videos, to keep your motor running while you seek out your next partner. While there are obvious comparisons to AFF, BeNaughty has some tricks of its own.
BeNaughty premium users can gain access to tools such as automatic browser history clearing, incognito mode, read receipts, and selective visibility on the casual encounter site, making it easy to stay as anonymous as you want while still putting yourself out there. Premium members also gain access to more adult content, unlimited private messages, and live cam shows.
All women on BeNaughty receive premium membership automatically. Men on the site face a choice of three different premium membership packages. These plans let you choose what tools you want the most: Extra Security bundles security and privacy features, while the Chataholic pack gives you read receipts and unlimited messaging. The Premium Dater gives you the best of both worlds, with all the privacy and communication benefits you could want.
3. DateMyAge
Relationships: Serious Dating, Long-term Relationships, Pen Pals
Match System: Search filters, Suggested matches
Our Experts Say: “DateMyAge provides local and international matches for singles who are over 50 and hoping to entertain a long-term love interest…”
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| All Singles* |
43%*
57%*
|
128,000* | Browse Profiles FREE |
With more than 600,000 members, DateMyAge isn’t the largest over-40 dating site, but it’s undeniably popular. The site doesn’t cater to people seeking casual encounters, but a lot of older daters definitely use the platform for just that purpose. If you’re looking for a hookup but open to something more serious, DateMyAge might be a better platform for you than Adult Friend Finder.
Instead of a premium membership tier, DateMyAge offers a subscription package for credits that members use to access some of the features on the dating site. Every member can read the first messages they receive for free, but you’ll need credits to respond to any offers that come your way or to read responses to your messages.
You can also use your credits to video chat with potential partners, send virtual gifts, watch other users’ videos, and access Let’s Mingle, which lets you send the same message to several users simultaneously. Although many features require spending credits, standard members can browse, watch live broadcasts, and make initial contact with other members free of charge.
4. Flirt.com
Relationships: Hookups, Casual Dating, Chats
Match System: Search by age, location, gender, orientation, and other factors
Our Experts Say: “Flirt.com frees singles to chat with attractive locals and pick up dates on the spot. This hookup site is always open to horny and sexy people seeking one-night stands, casual dating, threesomes, and other sexual encounters…”
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
1 million* | Browse profiles for free |
If you prefer a friendlier, more playful atmosphere, Flirt.com offers a space to be silly and sexy. Banter is the name of the game on the casual dating site. It has plenty of communication options to keep things interesting. One of the key ways that Flirt.com sets itself apart from the steep hookup app competition is with the site’s variety of free communication methods.
Similar to other hookup sites, Flirt.com includes a public chat space where all users can mingle and talk in a low-pressure environment. Make no mistake: even in that public area, things get pretty spicy. You can also send and receive private messages with other users for free, as long as both of you are online.
Flirt.com takes things up a notch by offering Flirtcast, a method to send multiple users the same pre-written message simultaneously. This allows you to find your hookup more efficiently since you can reach out to several potential partners at the same time with one click. But if you want to contact users when they’re offline, you’ll need a premium Flirt.com membership.
5. Zoosk
Relationships: Fun Dates, Serious Relationships
Match System: Search and get match recommendations
Our Experts Say: “Geared toward young singles, Zoosk boasts a lengthy free trial and an huge user base (including straight, gay, and lesbian singles). Its app’s chat room-like feel makes it one of our favorites…” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
28.9 Million* | Start Zoosk for FREE |
Zoosk isn’t exactly known for being a hookup platform, but many members are looking for something casual and fun. The dating site and app have an easy-to-navigate interface and layout with intuitive tools and features so you can focus on finding the right potential match.
One thing that sets Zoosk apart is the flexibility of its options. Basic membership is free and comes with most key features you’ll need to find your next partner. You can browse suggested matches, check out icebreaker questions, send a like, and even reply to messages you receive on the platform.
You have one of two options if you want to send unlimited messages to other Zoosk users. Premium subscribers get unlimited private messages, as well as other perks such as virtual gifts, additional matches, and higher visibility. If you don’t want to commit to a monthly fee, you can buy Zoosk Coins, which allows you to pay for individual features when you’re ready to use them.
Suppose you’re looking for a hookup but prefer a more neutral atmosphere without adult content to distract you. In that case, Zoosk offers a member base of casual daters who are open to flirty conversations and local dates.
AFF Can be Your Wingman for a Casual Encounter
If you’re looking to spice up your love life with a hookup or a sexy fling, Adult Friend Finder provides the right tools and the right people to indulge your fantasies. With a bevy of erotic content and an enthusiastic member base of open-minded hedonists, you’re sure to find what — and who — you desire most.
Check out Adult Friend Finder and set off on a sexy adventure!
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